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Fairness in credit scoring: Assessment, implementation and profit implications

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  • Kozodoi, Nikita
  • Jacob, Johannes
  • Lessmann, Stefan
Abstract
The rise of algorithmic decision-making has spawned much research on fair machine learning (ML). Financial institutions use ML for building risk scorecards that support a range of credit-related decisions. Yet, the literature on fair ML in credit scoring is scarce. The paper makes three contributions. First, we revisit statistical fairness criteria and examine their adequacy for credit scoring. Second, we catalog algorithmic options for incorporating fairness goals in the ML model development pipeline. Last, we empirically compare different fairness processors in a profit-oriented credit scoring context using real-world data. The empirical results substantiate the evaluation of fairness measures, identify suitable options to implement fair credit scoring, and clarify the profit-fairness trade-off in lending decisions. We find that multiple fairness criteria can be approximately satisfied at once and recommend separation as a proper criterion for measuring the fairness of a scorecard. We also find fair in-processors to deliver a good balance between profit and fairness and show that algorithmic discrimination can be reduced to a reasonable level at a relatively low cost. The codes corresponding to the paper are available on GitHub.

Suggested Citation

  • Kozodoi, Nikita & Jacob, Johannes & Lessmann, Stefan, 2022. "Fairness in credit scoring: Assessment, implementation and profit implications," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 297(3), pages 1083-1094.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:297:y:2022:i:3:p:1083-1094
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2021.06.023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Koen W. de Bock & Kristof Coussement & Arno De Caigny & Roman Slowiński & Bart Baesens & Robert N Boute & Tsan-Ming Choi & Dursun Delen & Mathias Kraus & Stefan Lessmann & Sebastián Maldonado & David , 2023. "Explainable AI for Operational Research: A Defining Framework, Methods, Applications, and a Research Agenda," Post-Print hal-04219546, HAL.
    2. Emmanuel Flachaire & Gilles Hacheme & Sullivan Hu'e & S'ebastien Laurent, 2022. "GAM(L)A: An econometric model for interpretable Machine Learning," Papers 2203.11691, arXiv.org.
    3. Zha, Yong & Wang, Yuting & Li, Quan & Yao, Wenying, 2022. "Credit offering strategy and dynamic pricing in the presence of consumer strategic behavior," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 303(2), pages 753-766.
    4. Jos'e Pombal & Andr'e F. Cruz & Jo~ao Bravo & Pedro Saleiro & M'ario A. T. Figueiredo & Pedro Bizarro, 2022. "Understanding Unfairness in Fraud Detection through Model and Data Bias Interactions," Papers 2207.06273, arXiv.org.
    5. Jie Shi & Arno P. J. M. Siebes & Siamak Mehrkanoon, 2023. "TransCORALNet: A Two-Stream Transformer CORAL Networks for Supply Chain Credit Assessment Cold Start," Papers 2311.18749, arXiv.org.
    6. Lukas Jurgensmeier & Bernd Skiera, 2023. "Measuring Self-Preferencing on Digital Platforms," Papers 2303.14947, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2024.
    7. Tigges, Maximilian & Mestwerdt, Sönke & Tschirner, Sebastian & Mauer, René, 2024. "Who gets the money? A qualitative analysis of fintech lending and credit scoring through the adoption of AI and alternative data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    8. Silvana M. Pesenti & Pietro Millossovich & Andreas Tsanakas, 2023. "Differential Quantile-Based Sensitivity in Discontinuous Models," Papers 2310.06151, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2024.
    9. Sullivan Hué, 2022. "GAM(L)A: An econometric model for interpretable machine learning," French Stata Users' Group Meetings 2022 19, Stata Users Group.
    10. Topuz, Kazim & Urban, Timothy L. & Yildirim, Mehmet B., 2024. "A Markovian score model for evaluating provider performance for continuity of care—An explainable analytics approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 317(2), pages 341-351.
    11. Anna Langenberg & Shih-Chi Ma & Tatiana Ermakova & Benjamin Fabian, 2023. "Formal Group Fairness and Accuracy in Automated Decision Making," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, April.
    12. Henry Penikas, 2023. "Unaccounted model risk for Basel IRB models deemed acceptable by conventional validation criteria," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(4), pages 1-25, December.
    13. Lu, Xuefei & Calabrese, Raffaella, 2023. "The Cohort Shapley value to measure fairness in financing small and medium enterprises in the UK," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PC).
    14. Li, Zhe & Liang, Shuguang & Pan, Xianyou & Pang, Meng, 2024. "Credit risk prediction based on loan profit: Evidence from Chinese SMEs," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    15. Piccialli, Veronica & Romero Morales, Dolores & Salvatore, Cecilia, 2024. "Supervised feature compression based on counterfactual analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 317(2), pages 273-285.
    16. Dimitrios Nikolaidis & Michalis Doumpos, 2022. "Credit Scoring with Drift Adaptation Using Local Regions of Competence," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 1-28, December.
    17. De Bock, Koen W. & Coussement, Kristof & Caigny, Arno De & Słowiński, Roman & Baesens, Bart & Boute, Robert N. & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Delen, Dursun & Kraus, Mathias & Lessmann, Stefan & Maldonado, Sebast, 2024. "Explainable AI for Operational Research: A defining framework, methods, applications, and a research agenda," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 317(2), pages 249-272.

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